Junior Varsity Baseball Team Holds 'Legends Game' to Promote Mental Health

At its very best, sports can be a unifier; something that can bring people together through the collective thrill of competition and the sense of community it engenders. That much was apparent last Thursday, as Eastchester’s Junior Varsity baseball squad demonstrated the ability of athletics to engage, entertain and strengthen a community.

On May 1, the team held its first-ever “JCK Legends Game”, earning a dramatic victory as the Eagles rallied to overcome a seven-run deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring eight runs to secure a 9-8 win over rival Pelham. But although the game was a thrilling one, the significance of the day went far beyond the final score, serving as a reminder of Eastchester’s commitment to raising awareness about mental health.

The JCK Legends Game was organized by three EHS sophomores—Anthony Annunziata, Chris Castaldo and Ryan McGee—who started the EHS Legends Club this year after being inspired by a 2024 visit from speaker John Tessitore. Tessitore’s JCK Foundation—which was founded in 2011 to honor the memory of Tessitore’s friend John Kelly—focuses on promoting the importance of mental health and how the connective bonds of a community can play a vital role in supporting the well-being of individuals. 

According to McGee, the EHS Legends Club’s goal is to open up lines of communication in order to foster the type of community and inter-personal support structures that can be beneficial to those experiencing mental health issues.

“One of the messages of the organization is that you’re not alone, that there’s always someone there to talk to,” said McGee. “Because people don’t always know what you’re going through; you might be an athlete, things might be going great on the field, but off the field you might be struggling with something else.”

The trio has collaborated with Tessitore and the JCK Foundation throughout the year—even attending the dedication of the newly renovated “Legends Court” in Dobbs Ferry over the weekend alongside other students from around the area who are championing the ideals of the JCK Foundation. Legends Court is an outdoor basketball court located in Memorial Park that is emblazoned with messages of hope, including reminders that nobody has to carry their struggles alone. 

Thursday’s game marked the first major activity for the EHS Legends Club, as messages promoting mental health awareness were on display throughout the contest. Tessitore and his his partners at the JCK—Program Director Kevin McMahon and Program Coordinator Sydney Moraitis—were also on hand to support the team.

“We’ve always seen the varsity teams putting on events like this, so we felt that doing this event for a JV game really opens it up to even more students,” said Castaldo.

In an effort to demonstrate how significant an impact an individual can have on the lives of others, Eastchester players dedicated the game to their own “positive life-influencer,” whose names were announced over the public-address system. 

“I played for my mom,” said Annunziata. “Because she’s the kind of person that’s always there, behind the scenes, doing so much and giving support.”

Head JV Baseball Coach Matt Stern said that he was wowed by his players’ dedication to this cause—both McGee and Annunziata play for Stern while Castaldo was recently called up to the varsity squad—and lauded the trio for their creativity and passion.

 “It’s so impressive to me and everyone that I have spoken to,” said Stern. “These three individuals show that they really put others first, which is such an important quality. They spearheaded the whole thing, which is amazing. ”

Annunziata, Castaldo, and McGee all see Thursday’s game as the official “launch” of the Legends Club in EHS and hope to return next year with more ideas for fundraisers and events that will shine a spotlight on mental health. To that end, they said, Thursday’s game—especially its ending—couldn’t have turned out better in terms of giving the fledgling club momentum heading into the 2025-2026 school year. 

“The comeback amplified the message, it was like it was straight out of a movie,” said McGee. “We kept telling ourselves to stay in it and not give up. That really shows the JCK spirit.”